Device for dryer applied textile conditioners

ABSTRACT

A device for dryer applied textile conditioners and for a clothes dryer comprising a suction cup having associated therewith the fabric conditioning material. The conditioning material is physically attached to the suction cup and may be in the form of a rod, tube or sheet.

United States Patent, [191 Dillarstone 1 1 June 5, 1973 54] DEVICE FORDRYER APPLIED 2,938,297 5/1960 Greene ..248/206 R TEXTILE CONDITIONERS3,267,701 8/1966 Mandarino ..34 0 x [75] Inventor: Al -D a Somerset, NJ3,634,947 1/1972 Furgal ..34/60 [73] Assignee: Colgate-PalmoliveCompany, New Primary Examiner-William E. Wayner York, NY.Attorney-Herbert S. Sylvester, Murray M. Grill, Nor- 22 F] d: M 19 1971man Blumenkopf, Ronald S. Cornell, Thomas J. 1 8y Corum, Richard N.Miller, Robert L, Stone and Ken- [Zl] Appl. No.2 144,774 neth A, Koch521 US. Cl ..34/60, 117/139.5, 248/206 R [57] ABSTRACT [5 Int. i A d vie for d er a textile conditioners and for W PP [58] Field of Search..34/60, 12, a Clothes dryer comprising a suction cup having 248/20613853 117/1395; 252/86 sociated therewith the fabric conditioningmaterial. The conditioning material is physically attached to the [56]keferencgs C'ted suction cup and may be in the form of a rod, tube or IUNITED STATES PATENTS Sheet I 806,314 9/1957 Moran ..248/206 R r 3Claims, 4 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR DRYER APPLIED TEXTILE CONDITIONERSThis invention relates to a device for facilitating the transfer of afabric conditioning material to clothes while they are tumbling in anautomatic dryer.

Various types of fabric conditioning material have been devised such asstarches, fabric softeners, fresheners, brighteners, as well as othermaterials which beneficially affect the texture and condition of varioustypes of fabrics. However, it has been discovered that most,

if not all, of thefabric conditioning materials must be applied to theclothes while the fabric conditioning material is in a solid state sincethe application of fabric conditioning material in a liquid state oftenresults in spotting. Devices such as fabric or paper dry coated with afabric conditioning material have been utilized by insertion in aclothes dryer during operation. However, the inclusion of the materialdirectly with the clothes has its limitations since the fabric or papersubstrate may roll into a ball or may become permanently entangled witha particular garment so that only a small portion of the clothes receiveany effects of the conditioning material.

The present invention provides means for mounting a fabric conditioneron the door or other flat inner surface of a clothes dryer in a mannerso as to be readily engageable by'any' and all of the clothes by thetumbling action and which may be readily replaced as necessary.

The concept of this invention features the use of suction cup to hold arigid substrate to the door of a clothes dryer which is usually a glasswindow or of flat smooth enamel finish thereby allowing the clothingfabric conditioner and which may be easily attached and detached from aninner metal surface of a clothes dryer.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision of asuction cup which is impregnated with the fabric conditioner.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of adevice for attaching a rigid cylinder, rod or sheet of fabricconditioner to a suction cup for transference to clothes being dried ina clothes dryer.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in theprovision of suction cup means for positioning fabric conditioner in adryer which are simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture bymass production methods, and which can be easily used by a housewife ina conventional household clothes dryer.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of thepresent invention, which will become apparent as the followingdescription proceeds, are attained by these devices for dryer appliedtextile conditioners, preferred embodiments of which are illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, by way of example only, wherein:

' FIG. 1 is a sectional view through a portion of a clothes dryershowing an embodiment of the invention attached to the door of theclothes dryer;

FIG. 2 is a sectional detail view, in an enlarged scale of the form ofthe invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional detail view showing another embodiment of theinvention; and,

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of an additional form of theinvention.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate a clothes dryerhaving a housing 12 provided with a door 14, shown as of glass. Thedevice generally indicated by reference numeral 18 and comprising thepresent invention is adapted to be mounted. The device 18 includes asuction cup 20 of rubber or the like provided with a body 22 preferablycylindrical in cross section and having a circumferential rib 24thereabouts wellspaced from the end 26. The body 22 of the suction cup20 may be impregnated with the fabric conditioning material which may beany of the various starches, softeners, brighteners, fresheners, or thelike, or the material, similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. 3,442,692.An outer coating of fabric conditioning material may be coated onsubstantially all of the surface of the suction cup 20 and body 22.

A rigid tube 26, preferably of cardboard, is impregnated or coated withfabric conditioning material and is force-fitted over rib 24 to firmlysecure the tube on the body 20. In use, with the device 18 mounted ondoor 14 of the dryer drum 16, the tumbling clothes will successivelywipe against the fabric conditioning material impregnated or coated onthe suction cup 20, body 22, or tube 26 and be beneficially affectedthereby.

Referring now to the embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, it will be seen thatherein the suction cup 32 has a body 34 provided with a recess 36therein. A solid rigid rod 38, preferably of fabric conditioningmaterial or coated or impregnated with fabric conditioning material isforce-fitted in the recess 36. The rod 38 extends inwardly of the drumand is readily engageable between tumbling clothes.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a suction cup 40 is detachablysecuredto the flat door surface 14 and has a bifurcated mounting body 42integral therewith. The mounting body includes opposed jaws 44 and 46designed to receive a rigid sheet 48 of fabric conditioning material ora sheet coated or impregnated with fabric conditioning material. Thesheet is adapted to extend into the drum 16 and be wiped by the tumblingclothes. The sheet 48 is removably clampingly held between the jaws 46and 48." t i A latitude of modification, substitution and change isintended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances somefeatures of the invention will be employed without a corresponding useof other features.

I claim:

1. A device for mounting fabric conditioning material in a clothes dryercomprising a suction cup for attachment to the door of a clothes dryer,and a fabric conditioner on said suction cup, said suction cup includinga cylindrical body, said fabric conditioner including a cardboard tubecoated with fabric conditioning material, said body including a rib,said tube being forcefitted over said rib.

2. A device according to claim ll, wherein said suction cup isimpregnated with fabric conditioning material.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said suction cup is coatedwith fabric conditioning material.

' i i i

1. A device for mounting fabric conditioning material in a clothes dryercomprising a suction cup for attachment to the door of a clothes dryer,and a fabric conditioner on said suction cup, said suction cup includinga cylindrical body, said fabric conditioner including a cardboard tubecoated with fabric conditioning material, said body including a rib,said tube being force-fitted over said rib.
 2. A device according toclaim 1, wherein said suction cup is impregnated with fabricconditioning material.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein saidsuction cup is coated with fabric conditioning material.